Election uncertainty is fuelling anxiety and exhaustion for many voters, with tight margins and prolonged mail-in ballot counts turning the aftermath into a drawn-out test of patience. Dr David Spiegel, a Stanford Medicine psychiatrist, discussed ways to manage the strain during an appearance on KTVU’s The Nine on Monday, November 2, 2026.
The discussion focused on the emotional impact of high-stakes contests that may remain unresolved for days or weeks. Constant updates, close results and uncertainty over the final outcome can make it difficult for people to switch off from the election.
Spiegel is the Willson Professor and associate chair of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. He also directs Stanford’s Center on Stress and Health, which studies how stress and social support affect the mind, brain and body. ([stanfordhealthcare.org](https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/s/david-spiegel.html?utm_source=openai))
Stanford Medicine describes stress as a mind-and-body response rather than simply an emotional reaction. Prolonged stress can affect sleep and physical health, while uncertainty and repeated exposure to distressing news may make it harder to recover between periods of tension. ([med.stanford.edu](https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/12/stress-management-coping-skills-and-tools.html?utm_source=openai))
The election count may therefore feel less like a single day of voting and more like a marathon, particularly for people closely following the result or worried about what it could mean for their families and communities.
Spiegel’s appearance offered viewers a chance to consider how to manage burnout and anxiety while the counting process continues and the political uncertainty remains unresolved.
